Archive for January, 2011
Casey Joins Brown, Rockefeller, Stabenow to Continue Fight to Extend Critical Health Care Tax Credit for Trade-affected Workers
SOURCE: www.casey.senate.gov WASHINGTON, DC— U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) joined Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) this week to introduce legislation to extend the improved Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) –a critical federal program for displaced workers and retirees – for an additional 18 months. The improved HCTC was passed [...]
MSHA issues proposed rule on pattern of violations
SOURCE: www.dol.gov Rule would eliminate potential POV notification and use of final orders in review ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that a proposed rule to revise its pattern of violations regulation in 30 Code of Federal Regulations Part 104 will be published in the Federal Register [...]
Senator Sanders On Social Security
SOURCE: www.sanders.senate.gov The architect of a plan to end Social Security and Medicare as we know it was tapped to deliver the Republican response to the State of the Union address on Tuesday. Sen. Bernie Sanders said Rep. Paul Ryan’s very specific plan to cut Social Security and Medicare clarifies the debate. Meanwhile, the White [...]
United States Files Suit Against Guidant and Boston Scientific for Selling Defective Heart Devices That Were Implanted in Medicare Patients
SOURCE: www.justice.gov WASHINGTON – The United States has filed a complaint against Boston Scientific Corp. and related Guidant entities under the False Claims Act for conduct relating to certain of its cardiac devices, the Justice Department announced today. The United States alleges that Guidant sold cardiac devices, the Ventak Prizm 2 and the Renewal 1 [...]
Justice Department Signs Agreement with Fairfax County, Virginia, to Ensure Civic Access for People with Disabilities
SOURCE:www.justice.gov WASHINGTON – The Justice Department today announced an agreement with Fairfax County, Va., to improve access to all aspects of civic life for persons with disabilities. The agreement was reached under Project Civic Access (PCA), the department’s wide-ranging initiative to ensure that cities, towns and counties throughout the country comply with the Americans with [...]
Health care fraud prevention and enforcement efforts recover record $4 billion; new Affordable Care Act tools will help fight fraud
SOURCE: www.hhs.gov Joint DOJ & HHS efforts result in largest sum ever recovered in single year; new rules under the Affordable Care Act will keep fraudulent providers and suppliers out of Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP and avoid payments of fraudulent claims U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and U.S. Associate Attorney [...]
US Labor Department’s OSHA temporarily withdraws proposed column for work-related musculoskeletal disorders, reaches out to small businesses
SOURCE: www.dol.gov WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced that it has temporarily withdrawn from review by the Office of Management and Budget its proposal to restore a column for work-related musculoskeletal disorders on employer injury and illness logs. The agency has taken this action to seek greater [...]
STARK INTRODUCES BILL TO INCLUDE DEFENSE SPENDING IN BUDGET CUTS
SOURCE: www.stark.house.gov H.R. 413, the Defense and Deficit Reduction Act, Would Save $182 Billion WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) introduced H.R. 413, the Defense and Deficit Reduction Act, to take defense spending back to 2008 levels for the next five years. Rep. Stark introduced this legislation the same day that the House approved [...]
Thursday: HELP Committee Holds Hearing on Health Reform Benefits
SOURCE: www.help.senate.gov WASHINGTON – Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced the Committee will meet on Thursday at 10:00 A.M.to examine how the Affordable Care Act protects consumers against insurance industry abuses. The hearing, entitled “The Affordable Care Act: The Impact of Health Insurance Reform on Health Care Consumers,” [...]
Harkin Presses For Comprehensive Wellness Initiative To Fight Chronic Disease, Obesity And Reduce Health Care Costs
SOURCE: www.help.senate.gov WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today reintroduced major legislation to create a healthier future for America by giving our citizens access to better preventive care and consumer information to encourage healthier lifestyles. The Healthier Lifestyles and Prevention America Act, also known as the HeLP America Act, provides all sectors of our [...]
